Synopsis
She wanted to start again. To be someone—anyone—different . . .
Freedom. When Carleigh Stanger thought of college, that was the word that came to mind. Freedom from her unhappy home life. Freedom from high school mistakes. Freedom from the memory of that terrible morning. Only instead of bringing a sweet escape, Carleigh’s first campus party traps her in the scornful gaze of the last person she wants to see, Tucker Green.
It wasn’t long ago that being close to Carleigh was everything Tucker wanted. But that was before he realized she was just another scheming girl who’d do whatever it took to get her way. Even lie to the guy she claimed to love. Unfortunately while Tucker’s brain remembers the pain Carleigh caused, his body only remembers the pleasure . . .
Roxie’s Review
In Ruins by Danielle Pearl ended up on my radar totally accidentally and I’m SO HAPPY it did!!!
I started reading late at night and unfortunately got sucked in so badly that I was up until 2 am when I had to force myself to put the book down.
It’s that kind of book, the kind that is hard to put down even when you know you really, really should because your alarm will go in 5 hours.
I was intrigued as soon as I finished the prologue, we quickly get a glimpse of Carleigh’s family dynamic very early on.
Fast forward to present and she is in college ready to start the next chapter of her life. Fate is a cruel mistress, also in attendance is her ex. The boy he grew up with, fell in love. Planned a future until it was all gone but seeing him in school is a daily reminder of her loss.
So begins the angst filled roller coaster ride of Carleigh and Tucker.
“I love that no matter how he despises me, he can’t stop himself from wanting me any more than I can him.”
My heart hurt so many times for both of them. There was so much love but also so much hate and hurt. I couldn’t help but wonder if they even have a possible chance to recover from the past?
Mistakes were made, but sometimes the actions of your loved ones speaks volumes without a single world. Actions that will hurt you and shape who you are. Essentially bleeding into your decisions unconsciously.
Decisions that you will regret cause you hurt the ones you truly love.
There is so much push and pull as these two navigate the present. I couldn’t get enough of their complicated relationship.
If you love someone, truly and deeply.. Can you over come it all? Or are there things that we can never move on from?
“And when you love someone like that, you don’t let anything steal that from you. Not a fight, not a lie—even a devastating one. Nothing.”
The unexpected twist and turns added extra layers to this already fantastic love story.
My jaw kept dropping, my heart kept beating faster till the very end as all the revelations came to the surface.
This was my first book by Danielle Pearl and I can’t wait to dive into her other ones. I already one clicked.
This book can be read a standalone. It’s dual POV with past and present chapters.
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About Danielle Pearl
Danielle Pearl is the Amazon and iBooks best selling author of the Something More series. She lives in New Jersey with her three delicious children and ever-supportive husband, who–luckily–doesn’t mind sharing her with an array of fictional men. She did a brief stint at Boston University and worked in marketing before publishing her debut novel, Normal. She writes mature Young Adult and New Adult Contemporary Romance. Danielle enjoys coffee, wine, and cupcakes, and not in moderation.
Danielle is represented by Erica Silverman @ Trident Media Group
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